Commission Impossible

Walking Tall

Thu, 29 May 2008 07:57:17 -0800

Image: 365 days old today, Ruby is walking tall. I think my time is better spent chasing her than writing this blog every day.

I figured I should post a blog letting people know what's up. I've started to get emails asking after my well-being, and one checking to see if I needed bail money.

After I returned from Vegas I had such a massive hangover that doctors felt it had the potential to be terminal. I was told the only solution was to move to Pennsylvania and live with the Quakers for a couple of weeks. I just got back from PA, and I feel a lot better now.

I'm kidding, in reality something very strange happened in Vegas. I was at the MGM Grand casino and was recognized by Jessica Alba's publicist. Apparently she reads this blog regularly. He convinced me to interview for an audio/video engineering job at a hotel Alba owns in San Francisco. I got the job, and moved to the city-by-the-bay. I'll be blogging from SF from now on, it's what all the cool people do.

Okay, that's not true. Here's what really happened.

I was sitting by the pool in Vegas drinking a margarita that looked a lot like a Slurpy made from pureed smurphs, when I had an epiphany. As the sun and tequila seeped into my body I started thinking about how much time and energy I spend on this blog. Which made me consider what else I could do with that time. I could earn more money, volunteer in my kid's classroom, play, swim, sleep, or any number of things.

So I made the decision then and there to reduce my commitments outside of family and work. I haven't yet decided if I would totally quit this blog gig, take the summer off, or just cut back to writing when the whim takes me. I'm leaning towards taking the summer off. But since this effort costs time, makes no money, and mostly entertains people that are too bashful to comment, I feel a strong pull to simply quit doing it.

On the other hand it seems like there are some things that really need to be said, but nobody else seems willing to do it (warning... profanity follows, but not out of anger, just for theatrical effect).

When I heard the city was going to train neighbors to travel around and report (anonymously I'm sure) minor code violations I thought "what fucking genius came up with this?". Is Chico a communist country? If I never write this blog again how can I file a California Public Records Act request to get the names of everyone the city trains to do this, and then post those names, and the areas of town they will be responsible for, to the Internet? Somebody needs to do that... I think?

When I read today that the Park Department will lose a couple of employees because of the budget cuts the first thing that came to mind was the $600,000 allocated to the Bidwell Park Master Management Plan that is 2 years past due and cost 12 times what it should. Park Manager Dennis Beardsley put his own department's employees on the line in order to blow taxpayer money on a worthless study. The city won't ever back the plan, because there is too much enthusiasm in Chico to kick people out of the park. Or how about the $42,000 plant study that was spent on Comanche Slough. That stack of papers is a great replacement for a park maintenance worker. Good job folks, you've got your priorities straight.

Unfortunately, I spent this morning writing this instead of taking my kids hot tubbing before school. If I never post another blog I would like to pass on one crucial thing I've learned in the last couple of years. Purchasing a used hot tub (I got mine for $500) is one of the best decisions a family can make. The communal bath time keeps our cohabitation cohesively quite clean and chlorinated.

And I'll end it on that alliteration.

PS. For Ruby's first birthday my son and I are making her a wooden sword. Because if you're going to be a warrior princess you need to start training at a young age.

Vegas, Baby

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:15:11 -0800

Image: This is where I'll be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If I make it back alive I might post again on Tuesday.

That Settles It!

Thu, 15 May 2008 05:00:36 -0800

Image: Butte County Supervisor Jane Dolan filed suit against the Chico RDA to stop a land purchase in Chapmantown last year.

Case number 141213 Dolan, Jane vs. Chico Redevelopment Agency filed in 10/4/2007 is being settled. Supervisor Dolan filed the lawsuit seeking to stop a land transaction between the RDA and private land owners. The suit alleged that the sale price was excessive ($450K for 1.3 acres). The plaintiff (Dolan) sought to have the land returned to the private owners and the money returned to the RDA.

This land purchase was part of a planned low income housing project funded with RDA money. Tom Gasgoyne, of the Chico Beat, wrote a detailed story on the law suit and why Dolan says she filed it (10-2007, see story here). In short, she felt the process was secretive, failed to meet California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, and had an illegal map filed. In the Beat story Dolan is reported to have said...

She said she filed the suit as individual and not a supervisor because she does not want county taxpayers footing the legal bill.

The lawyer hired to file this CEQA based legal action also happens to be the lawyer the Friends of Bidwell Park hired in 2003 and 2007 to gum up the Bidwell Park Master Management Plan update (to stop disc golf). He was also used by a neighborhood group to obstruct the Enloe expansion.

Did Dolan get what she wanted? Hardly. The Redevelopment Agency agreed to resubmit a map to ensure an easement was correctly described in the land purchase. It also agreed to pay for Dolan's legal fees up to the point of the settlement. This would be the majority of Dolan's legal costs, and totals $20,000.

Since the RDA pays this money, you can assume it's coming from tax increment income. These funds are derived from property taxes of Butte County residents residing in Chico. Not only did Butte County residents foot Dolan's legal bill, but when interest has accrued and this money is paid back it will have cost us close to $40,000.

Did the lawsuit have any additional impact? Maybe. One of Dolan's other objectives was to force the city to follow a more open process with RDA funded developments. A lack of neighbor input was cited in this case as one of her concerns. Judging from the Bidwell Park Apartments public noticing process it seems like she has a point. But her lawsuit didn't change the way the city does business... yet.

On the other hand, the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) was expected to work on this project, and they may no longer be interested in taking part. So we own the land, but the project may be delayed, changed, or stopped. That was likely the real purpose of the lawsuit anyway.

With the cost of the land purchase, staff hours, outside council for the city, and the settlement paying off Dolan's attorney this parade of gaffes will likely cost more than $600,000 of taxpayer money (before interest accrues). You can double that figure to get the real cost to pay off the RDA bond the money comes from. Now that's some good ole fashioned blight fixin'.

I emailed Supervisor Dolan to get her perspective on the lawsuit, but received no response. City Attorney Lori Barker did respond and spoke to me about this case via telephone.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Robp, loyalist or patriot, you be the judge. See comments below for the answer.

The Safari

Wed, 14 May 2008 08:43:33 -0800

Safari Golf: Is it the future of disc golf?

I always wondered what I'd do if the City answered the hue and cry of the local environmental leaders and removed disc golf from Bidwell Park. I've been playing for 8 years, and while I've never achieved greatness at the recreation, I've certainly wasted enough energy to develop some level of skill.

I've also been teaching my kid to play. At 7 he's finally got the focus, balance, and strength to throw a disc well. He can throw a golf disc better than a baseball. I may have done him a disservice since there's little chance of challenging and beautiful baseball fields being removed from the Chico recreation scene.

But what is a disc golf course? Normally it is targets and concrete tee-pads to throw from. Normally there are 18 holes. But here in Chico we make do with whatever we can. The HWY 32 targets are unusual home made affairs and the tee pads don't exist. You can play without targets as well, it's called an object course. You just throw at specific objects like a dead tree, rock pile, deer, small children. The problem with not using targets is you lose the "putting" aspect of the game that requires much of the skill to play well.

On the other hand, if you had low cost and light weight targets that were easy to set up, you could play virtually anywhere. You just need a few hardy souls to hike in and hike out with the targets. We're calling this Safari Golf, and had a trial run a couple of weeks ago. It went pretty well and we produced a short video of the experiment.

(Note: I've got to pay a little homage to the Backforty Club here in Chico, some of that group were setting up temporary disc golf courses behind their houses for quite a while.)

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Dr. Tina H. I presume?. See comments below for the answer.

Drive Your Car To Work Week

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:32:33 -0800

Image: If you drive to work like this you get extra credit.

I'm sure a lot of you remember that I like to ride my bike to work. Last week I managed to not take my car out of the garage at all, at least as far as getting to work goes. That was nice.

But I noticed a few things this week. First, it seems like fewer people are parking around my office. Are the students gone? I also received an email from someone at the city pointing out the program the city has for local businesses who take part in bike week. There have also been a lot of stories in the E-R about biking, and alternative cars, etc. The excessive amounts of parking, press accounts, and extreme desire to support bike week at the city has really left me with just one option.

I declare this the first official Drive Your Car To Work Week. Here are some of the reasons to drive your car to work this week.

1. The roads are less crowded allowing for rapid lane changes without signaling.
2. The city depends on sales tax income from auto sales to pay its employees, so driving and wearing out your car so a new one is needed helps with the budget problem.
3. The asphalt union is guaranteed more work in the future.
4. Driving prevents Chico from looking like a 3rd world country crawling with cyclists and water buffalo.
5. It is easier to carry a Big Gulp in your car.
6. Road rage from a cyclist is hardly worrying, but when a mom of 3 flips someone off from her 10,000lb Escalade that's a credible threat.
7. If we don't use the roads someone will tear them out and replace them with high density new urban housing to make our neighborhoods more walkable.
8. Bike helmets make people look like stick figure drawings.
9. A car never gets a flat from goatheads.
10. It's going to be 100 degrees this week and your bike doesn't have air conditioning. If you haven't been biking before this week the weather might kill you.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Evel Watts Kneivel, Chico's only stunt weatherman. See comments below for the answer.

Acting Locally

Mon, 12 May 2008 08:32:37 -0800

Image: The 1906 great battery explosion. Let this be a lesson to you all.

Dan Nguyen-Tan is running a survey about whether or not Steve Bertagna should run for Chico City Council on his blog Bullfight. Some of you may know Bullfight since it was voted best local blog by the folks at the Chico News and Review. It's great that Dan is so active in local politics. But I mostly wanted to pat Dan on the back for his work in stopping the evil franchise Batteries Plus from sinking their teeth into a Chico neighborhood.

Dan's the treasurer for his Chico neighborhood group the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association. In their February 2008 newsletter (page 3) he gets credit for helping with the petition drive to stop people from purchasing batteries. Big Battery, the corporate behemoth needed to be taught a lesson. I don't support Big Battery, Big Water Bottle, or Big Plastic Grocery Bag. From the newsletter...

Batteries Plus is a franchise chain that sells only batteries, with automobile batteries representing eight percent of its national sales. The published results of the Lower Divisadero Corridor Business Survey (see story on p. 1) clearly indicated that the neighborhood opposes “formula” retail chains and auto-serving businesses, preferring pedestrian-friendly, independent businesses that mainly serve the immediate community.

Our sincere thanks to Dean Preston, Leela Gill, Dan Nguyen-Tan, David Tornheim, Patricia Vaughey, and the other local merchants and activists who helped organize the petition campaign. We are also grateful to NOPNA board members and neighbors who responded to our call to send letters to the Planning Commission, and to the neighbors from both sides of Divisadero who attended the hearing to voice their opposition.

Any business that makes more than 7% of its money on auto related sales needs to be destroyed. Under 7% and you're okay with me, for now...

We don't need things like battery stores here in our fair town. I buy my batteries at Trader Joe's, since they have organic fair-trade batteries (they only come in D size). When my kid got a fire truck for Christmas that required batteries to move the ladder and flash the lights, I told him that fire trucks weren't sustainable and exchanged it for a bucket. That's just good old fashioned Chico values.

I assume that Dan even removed the battery from the lap top he writes his blog on, and powers his computer with a stationary cycle. Good job Dan, stay active in local issues and keep protecting our community. Also, the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association is having it's block party next weekend (see flyer here). I'm sure we're all invited. I've got to go now, I'm attempting to convert my cell phone to potato power this morning. I plan on using potatoes grown locally in the Divisadero.

Update: I tried to stop by Dan's place and say thanks for stopping the battery store and for helping us figure out who should run Chico. I couldn't find Divisadero on the Chico map. Does anyone know where that is? Is it in Doe Mill? I've got a gift basket full of "ammonds" and Chico Bags filled with flavored water. Where do I send it?

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Captain Watts of the 1st Division Mounted Electric Grenadiers of Chico. See comments below for the answer.

Famous Moms

Fri, 09 May 2008 07:33:50 -0800

Image: A famous and wholesome mom from TV's yesteryear. I almost used a picture of Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears (both moms), but thought that might send the wrong message.

With Mother's Day coming up I thought it would be good to pay homage to great moms. As many of you fathers know, Mother's Day can be a double-duty holiday for us. You need to do something for your own mother, as well as make sure your kids are on track to uphold their "mother thanking" duties. So count this blog post as a gentle reminder that Mother's Day is this Sunday. It's also a history lesson about moms that otherwise might have been forgotten.

George Washington's Mom (from here)-
Mary Washington had "a mind of her own" -- she liked the isolation of the family farm near Fredricksburg, hated getting dressed up, and preferred to spend her time fishing with her first and favorite son, George, or rocking on the porch, smoking her pipe, gardening, or baking batches of her famous gingerbread for George and his four siblings. She tried to keep George close to home, but he kept trying to leave -- to become a sailor, which she forbid, and later, when he came of age, a soldier, which she was powerless to stop. And while he was away during the French and Indian Wars, she wrote George to complain about how she was fresh out of butter (and could he please send some), and during the Revolution, she requested that the government of Virigina provide her with an allowance, since she was, after all, the mother of the Commander-in-Chief.

Donovan McNabb's Mom (from here) -
Before the Eagles beat the Bears in Chicago this past October [out of temporal context], many of them feasted on macaroni and cheese, red beans and rice, greens and sweet potato pie - much of it homemade by McNabb and delivered to the team's hotel.

" Donovan loves the red beans and rice," she says, "And macaroni and cheese is his favorite."

Asked if she knew when he was a little boy that he was going to become a super star, she says, "Not at all. You just want your children to grow up to be successful college graduates and go on to make their own way in life. But he chose sports and that was a good thing. It kept him busy and kept him focused and in his books. That was the means kind of thing. So, No, I didn't expect that until we started seeing it coming out of Syracuse."

Now, McNabb, who used to work as a pediatric nurse, runs the Donovan McNabb Foundation in suburban Chicago and oversees her son's business along with her husband, Sam McNabb. Her business is Donovan's business. It's become her second career.

Saddam Hussein - The Mother of All Battles (from here)-
In August 1990, Saddam and his army invaded Kuwait as a result of a long-standing territorial dispute, proclaiming it Iraq's 19th province. He defied UN orders to retreat from the tiny country, beginning what he called "the mother of all battles."

The result was the Persian Gulf War with U.S.-led troops launching a relentless air offensive on Baghdad in January 1991. The war, which proved disastrous for Iraq, lasted only six weeks, and the U.S. announced a ceasefire in late February. UN terms imposed strict conditions on Iraq, including the destruction of all stockpiles of weapons.

Mr. Mom (from here):
[Trying to get Kenny to give up his security blanket]
Jack Butler: I understand that you little guys start out with your woobies and you think they're great... and they are, they are terrific. But pretty soon, a woobie isn't enough. You're out on the street trying to score an electric blanket, or maybe a quilt. And the next thing you know, you're strung out on bedspreads Ken. That's serious.

Pink Floyd's Mom - (from here):
Mother, should I run for president?
Mother, should I trust the government?
Mother, will they put me in the firing line?
Ooooowaa is it just a waste of time?

Frankie Lou Glazner:
I need to give a shout out to Frankie Lou. She made great meatloaf, was a cub scout den mother, and helped out in many a kid's classroom. My mom raised three boys, ran a business with my dad, and kept a clean home. Her holiday decorations, for Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving were legendary. When I was little she would wake me with a sweet, quiet, voice. When I was older, she'd send my big brother in to knock me out of bed.

Frankie grew up in a small town in Oklahoma and was on a championship high school basketball team. She spent summers picking cotton on her dad's farm. Her own mother passed away when she was a child, and she was saddled with a step-mom who never seemed to like her (or her kids). She married my dad right out of high school and they lived in New York, Texas, New Mexico, and California.

Frankie passed away in 1997 after a lengthy fight with breast cancer. She attended my wedding, but never met her grand kids. So part of my job this weekend is to make sure they know who she was.

Other Moms:
I wouldn't mind hearing about your mom, other famous moms, or interesting moms in the animal kingdom. So feel free to post something about moms. Or, just have a happy Mother's Day.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Executive VP of Future Knowledge at Momcorp, Robp.

Time For A Snicker Snack?

Thu, 08 May 2008 07:36:15 -0800

Image: Budget cut alternatives presented to the Finance Committee, and the savings from limiting COLA to 1% for 2 years.

The City Manager, Dave Burkland, recently asked each city department to come up with a budget realizing 7.5% cuts. When coupled with a cost of living allowance (COLA) reduction to 1% the city is able to fix its structural deficit by balancing the General Fund. From the chart above it looks like the Private Development Fund is also balanced under the 7.5% cut.

The Finance Committee asked for other alternatives that allowed for less cutting of police and fire. Three additional alternatives are shown in the image above. Jenn Klein has a good story in the E-R regarding yesterday's meeting where these alternatives were discussed (see here). Councilors, in particular Gruendl, want cuts to be determined differently.

From the article it sounds like Councilor Gruendl would like department managers to get together and work out cuts not based on a formula but based on what's best for the city. Ummmmmm. I have one question.

WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST YEAR!!!! You can't honestly tell me that city department managers haven't gotten together in the last year to discuss the budget. They must have. They must have also discussed how breaking union contracts is the only way to come in under budget without cutting services.

I think Burkland showed leadership in calling for across-the-board cuts. Is it the best solution? There is probably a solution that is more efficient than others. Each person in Chico probably has a different perspective on what cuts are best depending on what services they use. I've never been on fire, so cut the fire department. The party ordinance people suggested cutting the police 50%. Local builders might want to cut the Planning Commission. A giant pair of scissors could be constructed and placed in the giant hands to artistically represent cutting the art department.

With so many interests both inside and outside of city hall and 9 unions to deal with, there's really only one fair way for the City Manager to cut the budget. That's to distribute the cuts across the departments evenly. If another calculus needs to occur that placed the budget burden on planners and not police, then the Councilors should step up and make the tough call.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: All mimsy were the borogoves, and the Gregg Paynes outgrabe. See comments below for the answer.

Council Campaigner's Company Corrals $2.6 Million

Wed, 07 May 2008 07:09:57 -0800

Image: Web page showing the street address of the political action committee that regularly ranted about the evils of local developers in the 2006 election.

Email From The Democratic Action Club of Chico: Sent during 2006 election by Randall Stone. The Democratic Action Club of Chico is located at 976 Mangrove Ave. That's the same Chico address referenced in City documents for the Stone Building Corporation, which will receive $2.6 million from our over-spent Redevelopment Agency.

Our city is under a full scale assault by a few candidates known as the "Developer Slate." So much money has been poured into the local campaigns just so that these few men can do the bidding of their niche interests. If you need proof of such a narrow focus you need only look to the candidates' endorsements and funding for evidence.

These candidates are supported almost exclusively (and by large financial contributions) by mammoth developers with specific projects earmarked for the next four years. While development is not the enemy, their specific interest in this election and the candidates they have endorsed have little regard for anything other than these developers.

One of their "slate" is far too inexperienced to run a corner store much less a corporation such as the City of Chico. His past experience as student body president at CSU, Chico is tarnished by an ethics scandal that even today the candidate cannot recognize. It only brings to mind the slate's specific intentions. These candidates have said little about their experience and ability to handle the job and are depending on you not voting this election cycle to win and change the face of Chico's communities forever.

Another candidate has sought to imply official recognition by the County and consistently misrepresents his support by farming organizations. We need straight talk and honesty in our representation not the same old rhetoric from the candidates.

Chico needs your help now! As the officially recognized local club for the Democratic Party, the Democratic Action Club of Chico (D.A.C.C.) has endorsed the following candidates for office in the November election. We ask you to join us in ensuring Chico"s vibrant future and protecting our community from these few (and exclusively male) insiders.

If I recall correctly the candidates endorsed were Maureen Kirk for Supervisor, Gruendl, Flynn, and Nickell for Chico City Council.

Quid Pro Quo?
Only in Chico could this happen. A person forms a political action committee to hammer candidates for connections to local builders. Once those candidates are defeated they convert the office of the political action committee into a branch of their family's out-of-town corporate development company. Then they win $2.6 million in taxpayer money to tear down a mobile home park and put a high density development in a low density neighborhood. And nobody wants to talk about it.

Neighbors of a low income housing development are asking questions but not getting answers. Their concern that a high density development is being squeezed into their neighborhood is not causing pause at the City Council or concern at the staff level. One has to wonder why a City Council, who seems intent on having local developers bend over backwards to pacify neighbors, is marching to a different drum in this case.

The out of town developer, Gregg Stone of the Stone Building Corporation, is located in Dana Point, California. But a relative of the owner, and an employee of the Stone Building Corporation, also runs the Democratic Action Club of Chico. According to city documents Randall Stone maintains the Chico address of the Stone Building Corporation as 976 Mangrove Ave. This is also the address of the Democratic Action Club of Chico (see web page here).

Stone's email missives lambasted local conservatives in the lead up to the last election as being "in the pocket of developers". It's ironic that after supporting successful liberal candidates he championed his relative's multimillion dollar development, and converted his Democratic Action Club office into the Chico branch of Stone Building Corporation.

The Chico RDA is spending $2.6 million and $5.75 million in tax credits are being allotted to this project. The project has received numerous exemptions for landscaping, parking, zoning, density, and setbacks. The Stone Building Corporation stands to profit significantly from this tax-payer funded project.

Meanwhile, the neighbors, who have expressed substantial concerns over this project are receiving little attention from Councilors supported by Stone's Democratic Action Club of Chico. The neighbors do support a project at this site, but do not feel that the proposed project density meshes with their neighborhood.

Members of the City Council, specifically Flynn, Gruendl, and Nickell should take the neighbor's concerns seriously. They should take a second look at this project's size and density. For some of the people impacted by this new development the project process has the appearance of quid pro quo.

Neighbor's Concerns: The proposed Bidwell Park Apartments development is located on two adjacent parcels in the 1100 block of both 8th and 9th streets. It would remove a mobile home park that has been a trouble spot, and replace it with much needed low income housing.

The information provided here comes from one of the neighbors. She felt that they were unable to get a serious response from elected officials to their concerns.

The neighbors support replacing the trailer park with quality housing, but the project changes density zoning from R1 - low density residential to R3 - medium to high density. The adjacent 1.15 acres contains 7 residents. The Bidwell Apartments project would put 180 people on the same sized lot. The city has described the project as creating slightly higher density than the existing trailer park. There are currently 20 dwelling units most being trailer in the 400sq. ft. range. The new project includes 38 units (15-625sq. ft., 11-825 sq. ft., 12-1,035 sq. ft.). Neighbors feel that this 3 story building, which may increase the population of the trailer park by 140% is too big for their neighborhood.

There are also claims that the city failed to correctly provide public notice for the project. A meeting noticed 30 days in advance was canceled, and only 10 days notice was given for the subsequent public meeting. Some neighbors feel that the lack of public notice was unlawful and inappropriate.

Additionally, this project is supposed to be ADA friendly. Public transportation is located across the street from the project (the street being highway 32). The city has said they would not place a crosswalk at the new project. They are also not ensuring that the developer or city improve sidewalks on surrounding properties to create easy access to public transportation.

In January of this year the Planning Commission did ensure that passive recreation needs were addressed in the project.

The site and landscape plans shall be amended to include passive recreational amenities (such as bench seating) between Building Types I and II;

Bench seating is a recreation? No wonder we're all fat. Can you tell that John Merz, a Friend O' the Park, is on the Planning Commission? They also ensured that all window trellises had creeping vines growing on them. It's nice to see that the important things are being handled.

Come on Councilors, give this project another look.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Stone cold Anthony Watts. See comments below for the answer.

Hangliding Beavers

Tue, 06 May 2008 08:45:22 -0800

Video: Political TV ad directed at introducing hangliders to Bidwell Park.

It looks like the paraglider controversy is getting ready to blow up! I saw the political commercial above on local television last night. This will not make the Friends or even the Acquaintances of Bidwell Park happy. It looks like the Bidwell Hangliders are now using the possible paraglider approval as a stepping stone for their own park access. They've got a powerful ally as their spokesperson as well.

On the other side of the argument there's another letter-to-the-editor in the E-R today suggesting that paragliding will somehow ruin Bidwell Park. What makes me laugh about this point of view is the total lack of perspective these people must have. I sometimes get the feeling that these fretting park lovers never actually go into Upper Park. I wonder if they sit in front of an alter to Annie Bidwell tucked away in their basement.

The reason I get that feeling is that they never complain about the roads/cars, power lines, call boxes, and blueberry toilets. I'm sure they don't like those as well. But it's always recreational use by people that gets them up in arms. How can a dozen paragliders impact the park more than a hundred sunbathers at Bear Hole? They can't.

The letter writer also accuses the Park Commission of turning a blind eye to the homes built on the south rim of Bidwell Park. Those homes were approved by the Planning Commission and City Council. The Park Commission had no say in the approval of those homes. More recently the Park Commission has created a park sphere of influence that will allow them to comment on planned development within 1000' of Upper Park's boundary. But even then they just get to make a statement, and have no authority to approve or deny a project.

People should keep in mind that Upper Park is bounded by private property on its north and south sides. Chico's City Council could have made purchasing that property a priority over the last decade. Instead of securing the borders of Bidwell Park they've purchased Bidwell Ranch and Comanche Slough. Private property owners do, and should, have the right to develop their holdings. This is not communist Russia, private citizens are allowed to own things in America. The City Council had the right to spend money on pet projects of their supporters instead of expanding our existing parklands, and that's what they did in 2 of 3 land purchases.

The paragliders are no big deal. Leave them alone to have their fun.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: None. See comments below for the answer.

The End Of The World

Mon, 05 May 2008 09:03:17 -0800

Image: The end of the world seemed to be taking place in downtown Chico last Friday.

When the "we are the world" flags went up last year I thought they were fine. They were just somebody's expression of concern for the environment, and the planet. But now that the mother Gaia flag could be the catalyst for the American flag not flying in Chico, I find myself a little less tolerant.

I thought I'd provide some background on the two flags...

Earth Flag: Here is a portion of an article by John McConnell that states he copyrighted the Earth flag in 1969 and it is based on an Apollo mission photo of the earth. He states that the flag was created to celebate cooperation in space at the U.N. The Chico Earth flag flies to celebrate Earth Day, also apparently attributed to McConnell. See more here.

Earth Day 1979 was observed at the New York headquarters of the United Nations in cooperation with the Year of the Child. Several hundred children streamed across the street into the United Nations grounds, carrying and waving small (12" x 18". 31.5 x 47 cm.) flags which portrayed the Earth as seen from space on a dark blue background.

At the last minute a volunteer had come up with the idea of distributing "Earth Flags" to the children, who were participating in the Earth Day program. By the time I learned of this they all had their flags. Knowing the stiff protocol at the United Nations, I asked the guards if it would be all right for then to carry the flags and was informed that they might carry them up to the gate, but must leave the flags there and pick them up as they left. Yet when they came through the gate no guard had the heart to ask for a flag and so the Earth Flags added to our joyous celebration.

What is the Earth Flag? What does It stand for? Is it a real flag? How did it get started and how has it been used? When the first photo of Earth appeared in Life in 1969, I was deeply stirred -- as were many other people -- by what I saw. The Copernican revolution in thinking back in the l6th century had enlarged our view, our perspective of the human race. We became more aware of our planet, its relation to our solar system and to the universe. In viewing the first photo from space, thereby sharIng in part the experience of the astronauts, we ex perienced in a deep and emotional way a new awareness of our planet. In fact, our venture into space resulted in a conceptual revolution that gave us a more generalist approach to our problems and new and reverent wonder about the nature of the human adventure.

American Flag: It was impossible to find a definition and history of the American flag that wasn't tied up in political speech. So here is beginning of the Declaration of Independance that seems to sum up the reason for the American flag pretty well.

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Two founding fathers, Mark Sorensen and Rainman. See comments below for the answer.

Sex In Chico

Fri, 02 May 2008 07:11:26 -0800

Image: A titillating image to further lead you into my web of blog marketing.

I figured I could get more readers to stop in and read my blog post if I gave it a snappy title like "Sex In Chico". I'm a marketing genius. I'm guessing that next time I see the blog stats May 2nd will be one of my higher rated posts. Anyone want to make bets?

But this post isn't about sex in Chico, instead it's about what issues are important for Chico's future. I'm going to list the top 5 issues I think Chico needs to address. I'm wondering if you see the same issues as important. Here they are with #1 being the most important issue.

5. Parks and access to public property: Taking 18 years to build Baroni Park was ridiculous. Taking 14 years and allocating $600,000 for a park study to deal with disc golf is ridiculous. Purchasing Bidwell Ranch with sewer fees and redevelopment money for millions of dollars, and then fencing it off from the public (but allowing cows) is ridiculous. Buying Comanche Slough for $1.25 million and fencing it off from the public to keep out hobos is ridiculous. The city has spent ~$1.5 million of Proposition 12 and 40 state grant money, with none of that money directly supporting recreation. We build parks without bathrooms or basketball courts. Ridiculous.

Millions of dollars have been spent on studies and fenced property and few improvements have been made to our park system. The trails in Bidwell Park need more regular care and funding. Disc golf needs a place. Neighborhood parks need bathrooms.

Vocal advocates intent on limiting public access to property have had their say for too long in Chico. Funding ego driven downtown parks with $68,000 chess tables and broken band shell awnings should no longer take priority over building places for families to play.

4. Traffic and roads: Chico's traffic continues to worsen. Road improvements in older neighborhoods are slow to materialize while large capacity roads continue to fall apart. Roads are heavily impacted when driving in any direction across town at 8AM or 5PM . People are not using public transportation or alternative transportation methods. The fantasy that those things will happen has not come true. The City of Chico needs to prioritize public spending on roads. In particular gas tax funds need to be spent on roads and not to pay public employees. Fix the General Fund and pay employees out of that.

3. Industrial Development: Chico's land zoned for industrial development is severely constrained by access and environmental issues. Some properties have been surrounded by retail uses, and are not really appropriate to industrial development. Other areas such as the airport and the Hegan Lane business park have such limited access as to be unsuitable for any business with numerous employees. I spoke to one property owner that said he won't take prospective customers to his property during commute or lunch hours because the traffic would kill any possible deal.

2. Crime: Discussions of burglaries and crime against the student population are more common in Chico these days. It's difficult to know if this is a long term trend, or like the rash of shootings a while back, is coincidental. Separating growth related increases in crime from something like an active burglary ring is difficult since Chico is still a small town. It's clear that we can't afford new police officers, so some leadership needs to develop and find ways to police the community differently. Priorities down at city hall may be in the wrong areas.

For example, we have a fairly new neighborhood services position that earns six figures at the City. If this position were directed to communicate and expedite the formation of neighborhood watch groups perhaps some neighborhoods would be less likely to be targeted. This might allow the police to continue to focus on problem areas while reducing crime in other neighborhoods. Instead this position is all about charrettes and consultant plans with pretty pictures.

1. City Finances: We've beat this to death here on this blog. The city needs to find a way to spend less money and get more done. They pay better than almost any other organization in Chico. The benefits are incredible when compared to private employment. And yet with all of the money going to payroll the City still spends millions on consultants.

The City Manager, Dave Burkland, has stated that conserving jobs is a priority in attempts to re-align the budget. I understand the importance of maintaining the integrity (wholeness) of an organization on morale. However, I would point out that the City's main purpose is not to employ people, but to provide services to the public. Stop the automatic pay raises until appropriate city services can be funded.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Adonis of the art world, Gregg Payne. See commnets below for the answer

Run, Mark, Run

Thu, 01 May 2008 07:05:40 -0800

Image: Mark Sorensen, able to lift disc golf target and 3 children with one hand. His exceptional Nordic strength comes from eating a hearty breakfast. Note, boy in photo is unable to look directly at Sorensen due to glowing brilliance of his being.

Mark Sorensen has filed election papers for a 2008 City Council run. A lot of CI readers know Mark from his detailed and informative posts. I first met Mark at the third bi-annual Chico Turtle-Neck Sweater Wearer's convention. Us turtle-neck sweater wearers need to stick together.

I'm happy to see him running again. Sorensen is a small business owner. Mark is active in the community in a way that I think a lot of us would like to be. Mark is on the board of Catalyst Domestic Violence Services and has been for 12 years. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of the Chico Chamber of Commerce. He's a Rotarian and a Park Watch volunteer. In fact Mark has helped organize the Rotary Omelet Brunch that is happening at the Elks Lodge this Sunday (May 4th, 8:30AM-1PM, $10 adults, $4 for kids). Be there... or eat cereal.

The photo above was taken when we were installing disc golf targets at the Sherwood Forest course. Mark is a neighbor of the Hooker Oak Recreation Area park and stopped by to lend a hand. To my knowledge he has never golfed with a disc. Normally that would make him a communist, but I've decided to give him a pass because of the other things he does for Chico.

I once had a top-secret meeting with Mark to discuss local issues. We met at a high society brunch establishment called Cozy Diner. I had seen Mark there before, so I know he's got good taste in chicken-fried steak. I don't remember what we talked about, but I do know my breakfast came served on 3 plates. Are you noticing a trend... Omelet Brunch organizer and secret breakfast meetings... I think Sorensen should consider running a breakfast based campaign.

Signs like "Vote for Mark, or You're Toast" would work. How about "Elect Sorensen, He Won't Waffle". Maybe "Mark Sorensen for Council, He's No Cereal Pop-Tart". "Vote Sorensen for Eggs-ceptional Leadership" is another.

I'm going to see if Mark needs a spiritual advisor. I think all candidates should have one, and I'd like to be Mark's. It's worked out well for Obama, and I have the audacity of hope that I'll earn that position in the Sorensen campaign.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Once again hitting the "mark", Gregg Payne. See comments below for the answer.

Under The Gun

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:33:00 -0800

Image: Funding cuts that would be shouldered by city department, if a 7.5% across the board cut occurred.

At the 8/22/08 Finance Committee meeting the City Manager, Dave Burkland, provided information on how the city could balance the budget and fill the hole caused by the existing structural deficit. This budget fixing method would not solve the need for additional city employees as the area adds to its population.

The police department proposed cutting 14.5 positions to meet their budget target. Being the largest department their cuts have the largest fiscal impact. All of the other cuts fall below them on the list. From their report most of the cut positions seem to be empty but budgeted, or officers can be transferred to other jobs, thus vacating the positions.

The fire department cuts, whose plan I haven't read yet, have been described as cuts in overtime pay. It's still pretty amazing to me that cuts in overtime equaling $1,000,000 are possible this far into the budget problem. But I haven't read their plan, so maybe that's an oversimplification of the cuts.

Notice from the agenda below that limiting the pay increase of all city employees to 1% for 2 years is equal to a 3.25% cut in every department. If they limited the growth to 0% for 4 years they could probably do away with the 7.5% department cuts. But looking at the broad view of the "plan" (reprinted below) it looks like the 2 pronged assault on the budget is a reasonable direction.

The limit of employee pay raises to 1% for two years cuts the rate of the budget deficit's growth. When coupled with the departmental cuts, the General Fund's income can exceed the structural deficit over time. At least that's the expectation, but I've never seen the spreadsheet that shows how/when that happens.

The thing to look for is whether or not the IAFF accepts a 6% pay cut by limiting their increases to 1% for two years. If they play ball the rest of the cuts will probably work. If they opt to take a different route, then Chico's budget solution will be occur over a much bumpier road.

The budget issue is not static, even though it's being discussed as a static problem. it will change based on economic conditions and spending decisions. It has been getting worse lately. More than just the General Fund is in trouble.

From the 8/22/08 Finance Committee agenda...

The following expenditure reductions are recommended:

(1) Limit cost of living adjustments (COLA) for all employees to 1% for January 1, 2009, and January 1,2010. This recommendation reguires negotiations with all employee groups and would result in a savings of $2.3 million per year.

(2) Apply a 7.5% "across the board" reduction to Departmental Operating budgets to achieve a $4.6 million reduction of which $3.8 million would be from the General Fund. This target would be achieved through vacancies, attrition, and reductions in materials, supplies, and other nonsalary expenses. Based on the City's average six percent attrition rate over the past 11 years, I believe the necessary staff reductions can be achieved without forced personnel reductions. The workout plan for each department is unique and a variety of cost-savings actions have been proposed to meet the reduction targets. The financial impact of the 7.5 percent departmental operating budqet reductions over a two-year period is summarized in Table 1 below[shown above]. The detailed workout plans and service impacts for each department are included under the Exhibit A tab in the agenda binder.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Gregg "kaboom" Payne. See comments below for the answer.

A Wright Not A Privilege

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:44:02 -0800

Video: Some raw footage of me driving some of my various vehicles.

Only the most dedicated of blog writers would report on Video Traffic School and the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission in the same post. And that's why reading this blog is a privilege, and not a right.

Late last year while driving my wife's truck to the dump I was awarded a chance meeting with the California Highway Patrol. Since I can't hear the road in my wife's newer vehicle I couldn't determine how fast I was going. The CHP guy decided to let me know. Curse you Tom Nickell and all your CHP brethren from hell.

In my 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 I can hear the birds singing and the wind whistling by at 25mph. It's like driving the Chico Nature Center down the road, though without the pompous anti-disc golf attitude. At 75mph my old car sounds like a minor hurricane. My wife's truck sounds the same at 35mph as it does at 90mph. So I like to drive it around 90mph.

Anyway, I spent 4 hours last night paying for the sins of my first moving violation in 19 years. I learned a lot. In particular I learned that I do a lot of illegal things.

For instance, it's illegal for me to listen to my iPOD when I ride my bike. It's also illegal to drive backwards on the wrong side of the freeway while passing cars on the shoulder in the fog.

There are also new laws that don't impact me, but I should pass on. It is illegal for people under 18 to drive while talking on a cell phone even if it is a "hand-free" phone. It's illegal to drive when you're under 18. It's illegal to be 18. Apparently being 18 is also a privilege and not a right.

You also can't smoke with minors in your car. I couldn't tell if it was illegal to drive if the minors are smoking.

So there you go. If anyone out there needs to take traffic school, just let the court know that you read this blog. I'm pretty sure you just learned as much as I did last night.

Park Commission: (please read this while playing Ozzy Osbourne's Flying High Again).

Proving once again that illegal behavior is the best way to get "the nod" the paraglider proponents got recommended for approval by the Park Commission last night. I'm kidding, but the fact is that if paragliding hadn't already been in the park for a long time they probably wouldn't have had a chance. They will need an EIR, a municipal code change, and City Council approval. That usually takes 14-20 years.

Dennis Beardsley (interim Assistant City Manager, General Services Director, Park Director, and masked crime fighter known as "Mitigation Man") had said in a memo that the city didn't have money to perform the required EIR to allow paragliding. He backed off that statement last night when Commissioner Jim Walker suggested that hiking to a launch point and walking away from a landing point didn't really constitute a new kind of use of the park. Walker's main point being that since those activities are already allowed the environmental review can't be too complicated.

The proponent of paragliding, Jon Stallman, provided a presentation that covered 3 possible launch sites along the North Rim trail and a couple of landing points (Horseshoe Lake and near Bear Hole). An interesting fact is that once the paragliders are in the air they are covered by FAA rules and not the City of Chico. Therefore, concerns over falcons or other birds cannot be enforced by Chico in relation to powered/unpowered aircraft. If the paragliders launched outside of Bidwell Park, they would have a right to make an emergency landing in the park.

A couple of citizens complained about the visual impact on Bidwell Park. Commissioner Lisa Emmerich agreed with this point. A paraglider supporter pointed out that they've been using the site to do this for 12 years, and nobody has complained about the aesthetics of it before. Commissioner David Wood said that when he saw paragliders land they were usually peppered with questions about the activity and not complaints about the visual impact of it.

Commissioner Emmerich stated that in her time on the commission she felt the body had resisted allowing any new uses in Upper Bidwell Park. She was confused by the apparent support for this new use, even though it's been in the park for years (illegally). Commissioner Steve Lucas responded that even though some on the commission are less outspoken, there are members that believe access should not be denied to the park, and that it should be used for recreation.

Last night the Park Commission did a good thing by supporting paragliding in Upper Bidwell Park. That was a positive step for improving park access, even though it only impacts a dozen or so people who clearly have money to spend on their hobby. The vote was 5-2 with Walker, Barrett, Lucas, Wood, and Candela for, and Emmerich and Ober against paragliding.

CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Always the wright man for the job, Gregg Payne. See comments below for the answer.